Diseases pose significant dangers to international food security by destabilising food production and distribution, leading to increased vulnerability especially in climate-vulnerable regions.
The banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) causes the most serious viral disease affecting bananas globally, potentially causing complete yield loss in infected plants.
In Australia, BBTV has been present for over 100 years, significantly threatening the Australian banana industry, which is valued at up to AUS$605 million. The spread of BBTV could result in millions of dollars in losses and disrupt vital banana production in Australia.
The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at The University of Queensland worked with Professor Chris Gilligan, Director of Research in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, to create epidemiological models to predict the spread of BBTV and therefore create the informing strategy for the future control of banana bunchy top virus in the Australian banana industry. Our Consultancy team supported Chris throughout this project.
“Pests and diseases remain one of the biggest threats to food production, increasingly destabilising food security and livelihoods across climate-vulnerable regions around the world.”
The learnings from this project provided valuable guidance for the management of BBTV in Australia. They emphasised the importance of continued vigilance and robust management strategies to prevent advanced spreading.
As a result, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council, the peak industry body representing Australia’s banana industry, had improved guidelines for the Australian control program, further protecting Australian farmers from the dangers posed by BBTV.
Banana trees
Creating global impact with strategies for BBTV control
It was recognised that the principles from this project could be applied in sub-Saharan Africa to assist smaller-scale subsistence farmers. This realisation led to a broader consultancy project, which applied the same epidemiological models and principles developed in Australia to manage and mitigate the spread of BBTV in West and East Africa.
This follow-on project received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, benefiting farmers in ten West African countries. This highlights the significant impact this project has had on international food security, particularly in the production and distribution of bananas, as well as the societal benefits it provides to communities.
Our Consultancy team supported Professor Chris Gilligan throughout this project, allowing him to solely focus on his collaboration with The University of Queensland for this project.
Image credits: Unsplash
Tags: Australian Banana Industry, Banana Bunchy Top Virus, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, consultancy, Disease Management, Epidemiological Models, Food Security, Hort Innovation Australia, plant sciences, Professor Chris Gilligan, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Subsistence Farming, The University of Queensland
